Hot Dog Taste Test

Kristin Donnelly is a Brooklyn-based food writer and author of the forthcoming cookbook, The Modern Potluck. She is also the cofounder of Stewart & Claire, an all-natural line of lip balms.

Epicurious’ editors tasted 21 meat-based hot dogs and 10 poultry-based ones to find this year’s best. Because the fire marshal wouldn’t let us set up a Weber in our midtown NYC offices, the dogs were pan-steamed in a bit of water until the liquid evaporated, and then browned in the pan. Here, the results.

Editors said: "Best flavor of the bunch." "Zesty, meaty, would be good with mustard." "Lightly smoky, familiar in a good way, tastes like the ballpark." "Metropolitan Museum hot dog. A little spicy. Good firmish texture."